Gabba to Goodwill

In February 2016, Bicycle Queensland called on all parties contesting the Brisbane council elections on March 19 to commit to saving lives by funding the construction of a major separated bikeway along one of the city’s busiest and most dangerous roads.

Plans were unveiled for the Stanley Street bikeway that would stretch 1.2 kilometres from the Gabba to the Goodwill Bridge at South Bank.

The proposed bikeway would create a critical infrastructure link that would allow thousands of people to cycle safely in a part of inner Brisbane that is used by 45,000 vehicles per day.

Commencing at the corner of Ipswich Road and Stanley St, the two-way route would provide bike riders with separation from vehicles all the way along the busy traffic corridor, linking with South Bank, the Bicentennial Bikeway and the Goodwill Bridge to the CBD.

The plan also includes expanded pedestrian zones, newly paved areas, sculpture opportunities, a public plaza, and trees and shelters for shade to enhance Brisbane’s reputation as a new world city.

BQ sees the bikeway as a critical piece of infrastructure in making a part of Brisbane rideable for the thousands of people in the rapidly growing Woolloongabba area and inner eastern suburbs.

The project will lift the busy Stanley Street corridor from an ugly, hostile and dangerous road into a pleasant place to live, dine, commute by bike and walk along by creating a new buffer- boulevard.

The plan will also address some of the key recommendations made by the coroner in December following an inquest into the death of bike rider Rebekka Meyer at the Stanley Street/Annerley Road intersection in 2014.

Coroner Christine Clements recommended that more dedicated, exclusive bikeways be planned and developed across Brisbane to prevent a similar tragedy occurring, particularly at this location (The complete findings of the inquest are available on the Queensland Courts website).

Not only will this bikeway address that recommendation, it will also incorporate the recommendation to widen the pedestrian crossing across Stanley Street, giving riders a safe, alternative route into Annerley Road.

To view or download the full concept designs of the Stanley St ‘Gabba to Goodwill’ Bikeway, click here.

To read more about Bicycle Queensland’s election priorities, click here.